HLM Interiors has completed a £10 million project for Balfour Beatty to rationalise and standardise its offices throughout the UK to reduce its operational running costs and become more efficient across the business workplace.
The project has delivered a reduced portfolio of office accommodation that promotes operational efficiency and best value for money. This was achieved by merging a number of divisions across the country to allow existing properties to be released from its property portfolio.
In their place, regional ‘hub’ offices have been created in key locations – Manchester, Leeds, Langley, Redhill, and London, along with existing office which were retained and re-modelled – with all offices ranging in size from 8,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft.
Working with Balfour Beatty, HLM Interiors also produced a ‘Design Standards’ document, which formed the basis of the design of all new offices . It details a new way of existing within the workplace and is focused on delivering an efficient workplace environment.
The initiatives in the document includes: open plan layouts, a desk/staff ratio of 12:10, bookable meeting space, communal facilities and hot desks.
HLM applied its design standards to a hypothetical building before the start of the project to demonstrate the effect they would have on the company while operational. The furniture solution was also included in the document as well as a sustainable design statement.
Jamie Wilson, Associate Director at HLM, said: “The design standards and workplace initiatives were key to the success of the project. They helped ensure that each office was designed to maximise operational efficiency in terms of running costs and at the same time improve employee performance.
"This project is a great example of how an organisation can take positive steps to reduce operational costs across their estate and create a better workplace for their employees.”
HLM Interiors has completed a total of 15 office spaces for Balfour Beatty.
